Tufting apparatus



June 5, 1951 A. CRAWFQRD 2,556,068

Tux-"Tmc APPARATUS Filed Aug. 25, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS 5 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Aug. 25, 1947 w INVENTOR y "5 BY ALLAN CRAWFORD Tull/m42 dAuvud/Jnf f/amwm ATTORNEYS Jun 5, 1951 A. cRAwFoRD 2,556,068

TUFTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 23, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 f7@ ATTO R N EYS 5 sheets-Sheet 4 A. CRAWFORD TUFTING APPARATUS June 5, 1951 Filed Aug. 25, 1947 INVENTOR ALLAN CRAWFORD BY mdf,

(n @mgm June 5, 1951 A. CRAWFORD TUFTING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 25, 1947 INVENTOR ALLAN CRAWFORD Ewig, fnd/wit f-anmsm ATTO R N EY5 Patented June 5, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TUFTING APPARATUS Allan Crawford, Amsterdam, N. Y., assigner to Mohawk Carpet Mills, Inc., Amsterdam, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 23, 1947, Serial No. 770,315

9 Claims. l

This invention relates to tufting machines, by which lengths of yarn are passed through a web to form tuft loops having bights lying against the back of the web and legs extending through the web to produce a tufted face. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a novel tufting machine, which can be employed for the production of tufted products having tufts of different colors arranged in accordance with a pattern.

In the new machine, tufts are inserted in the web in successive transverse rows by groups of needles, the needles in each group being mounted to lie in a line and threaded with yarns drawn from separate supplies, one for each needle. The supplies of yarn provided for the needles of each group are determined by the requirements of the pattern and the groups of needles are arranged in a series as determined by the pattern and utilized successively for tufting. The completed product thus carries tufts forming a single design or may consist of a number of units, each carrying a repeat of the design.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a tufting machine constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a View in side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of certain parts of the apparatus with other parts shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the parts in different relative positions;

Fig, 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are sectional views showing the operation of the tufting elements; and

Figs, 9 and 10 are sectional views illustrating the relative positions of the tuft yarn and the backing in diierent stages in the tufting operation.

The tufting machine illustrated in the drawings comprises frame sides II connected by a number of girts I2. The backing material I3 to be tufted is supplied from a roll I4 mounted on an arbor in suitable supports on the frame sides and passes about a guide roll I5 and then around a driven spike roll I6. From the spike roll, the backing is led along the under surface of acloth board II supported at its ends on brackets I8 attached to the frame sides. The cloth board tapers in thickness toward one edge and that edge is formed with a plurality of closely spaced slots extending inwardly from the edge. The backing is drawn about the thin edge of the cloth board and over the top thereof to pass about 'a breast beam I9 to a driven spike roll 2B. A gear 20a mounted on the shaft of roll 20 meshes with a gear 20h on the same shaft as a ratchet wheel 20c driven by a pawl 20d attached to an arm `29e fast on a shaft 20j. An arm 20g, which is`fast on shaft 20j, is connected by rod 2h'to an arm 201' on the rock shaft 19. The fabric passing around the spike roll 20 travels about a roll 207' and is thence directed to a take-up roll 29k. The mechanism for advancing the fabric step by step by the spike roll is of the standard type used yin an Axminster loom.

The supplies of yarn for tufting purposes are wound on spools 2| rotatably mounted in arms 22 of needle frames 23. Each spool is wound with 'a number of differently colored yarns, one for each tuft in a particular row across the finished fabric, the arrangement of the yarns on the spool being determined by the pattern. Each frame 23 carries a row of needles 24 projecting downwardly therefrom and there is one needle for each of the diiferent yarns on spool 2| The needles have openings 25 near their lower ends and the yarns are drawn from the spools and pass through guides 26 on the frame and then through the eyes of their respective needles.

The needle frames are transported to and from active tufting position on a carrier comprising a pair of conveyor chains 21 and the arrangement of the needle frames with their spools on the chains is determined by the pattern. The chains pass about sprocket wheels'28 on a shaft 219 supported on the machine frame members andthe links of each chain are double. Each frame`23 is provided with upstanding arms 30 at its opposite ends, which may pass between the links of a pair on each chain, and each frame also has a spring hook 3l at each end. The hooks are adapted to overhang the inner links of the pairs, between which arms 30 extend, and thus support` the needle frame from the chains. y i

In the tufting operation, a needle frame, which is at the lowest point of chains 21 beneath sprocket wheels 28 is removed from the chains and lowered, until the needles thereon penetrate both legs of the bight of backing material led around the thin edge of the cloth board. The mechanism for removing the needle frames from the chains and lowering them toward the: cloth board comprises a pair of clutches 32, each mounted on one end of a transfer arm 33 piv-iotally mounted on an arm 34 to swing in a genthe upper surface of the clothboard and a new length of the fabric is led around the slotted edge of the clothboard. During such movement of the fabric, the carrier advances the next needle frame to active position. The transfer arms swing in to remove that needle frame from the carrier, and the sequence of operations is repeated.

The front knife 'i6 is provided with rake teeth 92 on its lower surface and, when the yarns have been severed by the action of knives l5, 'Il and knife 'Vl moves back, knife 'le moves in the same direction, until the rake teeth 92 lie beyond the slotted edge of the clothboard. Knife 16 remains in this position, until the fabric has been advanced another step and the last inserted lengths of yarn Si lie above the clothboard. The

yarns from the respective supplies, transfer arms engaging the web and directing it along one face of the plate, over the free edge thereof, and along the other face, a carrier movable stepwise, a plurality of frames mounted on the carrier, each frame carrying a plurality of supplies of yarn and having a row of needles projecting from it, the needles being adapted to be threaded with operable during a period of rest of the carrier to remove one of said frames from the carrier, move said one frame with a substantially rectilinear movement only to cause its needles to pass the yarns through the web on opposite sides of the plate and through the slots in the plate,

knife 'it then moves back to its original position and, in that movement, the teeth 92 engage the legs of the last inserted tufts and straighten them up, so that they will not interfere with the insertion of the next set of tufts by the needles.

I claim:

l. A tufting machine, which comprises means for advancing a web stepwise in the direction of its length, guide means engaging the web and forming a transverse fold therein having legs lying close together, a carrier movable stepwise, a plurality of frames mounted on the carrier, each frame carrying a plurality of supplies of yarn and having a row of needles projecting from it, the needles being adapted to be threaded with yarns from the respective supplies, transfer arms operable during a period of rest of the carrier to remove one of said frames from the carrier, move said one frame with a substantially rectilinear movement only to cause its needles to pierce the legs of the web and pass the yarns therethrough, and restore said one frame to the carrier, means for operating the transfer arms, means for holding the ends of the yarns passed through the web by the needles and drawing lengths of the yarns from the supplies, as4 said one frame is being restored to the carrier, and means for severing the yarns between the web and the needles. n

2. 'A tufting machine, which comprises means for advancing a web stepwise in the direction of its length, guide means engaging the web and forming a transverse fold therein having approximately horizontal legs lying close together. a carrier movable stepwise along a path, a part of which lies above the web, a plurality of frames mounted on the carrier, each frame carrying a plurality of supplies of yarn and having a row of needles projecting from it, the needles being adapted to be threaded with yarns from the respective supplies, transfer arms operable during a period of rest of the carrier to remove one of said frames from the part of the carrier above the web, lower said one frame with a substantially vertical movement only to cause its needles to pierce the legs of the web and pass the yarns therethrough, and restore said one frame to the carrier, means for operating the transfer arms, means for holding the ends of the yarns passed through the web by the needles and drawing lengths of the yarns from the supplies, as said one frame is being restored to the carrier, and means for severing the yarns between the web and the needles.

3. A tufting machine, which comprises means for advancing a web stepwise in the direction of its length, a plate extending transverse to the web and having a slotted free edge, guide means and restore said one frame to the carrier,l means for operating the transfer arms, means for holding the ends of the yarns passed through the web by the needles and drawing lengths of the yarns from the supplies, as said one frame is lbeing restored to the carrier, and means for severing the yarns between the web and the needles.

il. A. tufting machine, which comprises means for advancing a web stepwise in the direction of its length, a plate extending transverse to the web and having a slotted free edge, guide means engaging the web and directing it along one of the plate, over the free edge thereof, and along the other face, a carrier movable stepwise, a plurality of frames mounted on the carrier, each frame carrying a plurality of supplies of yarn and having a row of needles projectipe from it, the needles being adapted to be threaded with yarns from the respective supplies, transfer arms operable during a period of rest of the carrier to remove one of said frames from the carrier, move said one frame with a substantially rectilinear movement to cause its needles to pass their yarns through the web on opposite sides of the plate and through the slots in the plate, and to restore said one frame to the carrier, me" for operating the transfer arms, coopera grippers for holding the ends of the yarns pa, n through the web by the needles and drawin lengths of the yarns from the supplies, as said one frame is being restored to the carrier, and cooperating knives operable to sever the yarns between the web and the needles,

5. A tufting machine, which comprises means for advancing a web stepwise in the direction of its length, a plate extending transverse to the web and having a slotted free edge, guide means engaging the web and directing it along one face of the plate, over the free edge thereof, and along the other face, a carrier movable stepwise and having a portion lying above the plate, a plurality of frames mounted on the carrier, each frame carrying a plurality of supplies of yarn and having a row of needles projecting downwardly from it, the frames on the carrier lying transverse to the web and the needles being adapted to be threaded with yarns from the respective supplies, transfer arms operable durn ing a period of rest of the carrier to remove one of said frames from the part of the carrier above the plate, lower said one frame, while maintaining the needles vertical, to cause the needles to pass their yarns through the web on opposite sides of the plate and through the slots in the plate, and restore said one frame to the carrier, means for operating the transfer arms, cooperating grippers for holding the ends of the yarns passed through the web by the needles and drawing lengths of the yarns from the supplies, as said one frame is being restored to the carrier, and cooperating knives operable to, sever the yarns` between the web and' the needles.Y

6;. A. tufting machine, which comprises means fon advancing a webv stepwise in theA direction of its-length, a plate extending transverse to the webA and having aslotted free edge, guidemeans engaging. the' web and directing it along one facef ofiV the plate; over the free edge thereoi, andzalongthezother face, a carrier movable step wise andhaving a portion lying above the plate, a plurality of frames mountedv on the carrier, eachlfranie carrying a plurality ofl supplies oi' yarn and` having a4 row of needlesV projecting downwardly fromy it, the frames on the carrier lying transverse to the'webf and the needles being; adapted to-bethreaded: with yarns from the ra spective supplies, transfer arms operable dur-- ing al period ofrest of the carrier to' remove oneoisaid frames from the partof the carrier. above;` the plate,4 lower said one frame, while maintaining the Vneedlesl vertical, tp. canse the needles to pass their yarns through the web on opposite'sides` of the plate and through the slots in the plate, and restore said one frame to the carrier, means for operating the transfer cooperating grppers for holding the ends of the yarns passed through the web by the neer r, and drawing lengths ofthe yarns from the sus plies, as-said one frameisibeing restored to the carrier, and cooperatingv knives operable to sever theyarnsbetween theA web and the needles, one of theA knives moving over the web as it leaves the edge of the plate and being provided Witl': means for adjusting the'positions of the yarns previously inserted inA thezweb.

7. In a tufting machine, the combination o means for advancing afweb in the direction of its length, guide means engaging the web maintaina transverse fold therein, a frame carrying a plurality of supplies of: yarn and having` a rowofl needlesprojecting from it, the needles being adapted to be threaded withY yarns from the supplies, means for moving'the frame with a substantially rectilinear movement only towardand away from theweb adjacent theffold to cause the needles to pass their yarns through the web at opposite sides ofA the fold line, gripper means for gripping the'ends of theyarns'passed through the web to cause lengthsA of the yarns to. be drawn fromv thev supplies as the frame moves frointhe web, and knives operable tosever said lengths of yarn between the web and the needles;

8. In a tuftingmachine, the combination of means-forA advancing a web in the direction of its length, guide meansV engaging the web to maintain a tra'nsverselfold therein, a frame'carrying: a pl'uralityof supplies of yarnA and having a row of` needles projecting from it, the needles^ being adaptedv to be threaded withl yarns from the supplies, means for moving the frame with asubstantially rectilinear movementr only to ward and away from the web adjacent the fold to cause the needles to pass their yarns through the web at opposite sides of the fold line, gripper means for gripping the ends of the yarns passed through the web to cause lengths of the yarns to be drawn from the supplies as the frame moves from the web, and cooperating knives for severing said lengths of yarn between the web and the needles, one of the knives having projections operable to adjust the positions of yarns previously inserted in the web.

9. In a tui-ting machine, the combination of meansfor advancing a web in the direction of its length, guide means engagingV the web to maintain a. transverse fold therein, a frame carrying a pluralityy of supplies of yarn and having a row of needles projecting from it; the needles being adapted tolbe threaded'withyarns from the supplies, means forA moving theframe with a substantially rectilinear movement only toward'and away from the web adjacent the fold to cause the yneedles to pass their yarns through theweb at opposite sides ofthe fold line, gripper` means for gripping the ends of the yarns passed through the web to cansev lengths of thev yan J to be drawn from thegsupplies-as the-frame rnc from theweb', .andcooperating knives for sever` ingv said lengths of yarn between the web and the needles, one of; the knives. lying above the web ,leavingY the :foldv line and having projectionsion'its undersur-face engaging the'free ends of= lengths of-lyarns previously inserted and :nonring said ends to erectposition.

ALLAN CRA'WFORD:

REFIEIRENCESi` CITED The following references are of record in the iile. of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 272,697 Huff Feb. 20, 1883 1,845,614 Mason Feb-.16, 1932 1,865,221 Stone June 28, i932 2,213,589 Montgomery Sept. 3, 1940 v FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country DateV 17,044y Great Britain 1887 

